Foot manipulating apparatus



Oct. 8, 1935. .1. H. MCCAHAN ET AL 2,016,930

FOOT MANIPULATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27, 1954 2 SheetsSheet 1 Em 1w 5,"

J M 00/20 L. J Fuller [Z L. Salamef Oct. 8, 19375. J; H. McCAHAN ET AL 2,015,930

FOOT MANIPULATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27, 1934 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Q I J Fuller l% HL Samblanet r Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT MANIPULATIN G APPARATUS John H. McCahan, Canton, Louis J. Fuller, Massillon, and Herman L. Samblanet, Canton, Ohio, assignors to Foot Norm Inc., Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application January 27, 1934, Serial No. 708,626

12 Claims.

' blood vessels and nerves of the foot, and the muscles and tendons acting thereon, and more particularly, to restore the bones and cartilages of the foot to their natural positions.

The greater proportion of the painful and irritating ailments of the feet can be traced directly either to the more or less tightly fitting shoes and the like, which are universally worn by all civilized peoples, or to trauma or sickness.

Due to any of the above causes, the bones of the feet are cramped or forced out of natural position, so as to preclude the natural movements thereof in supporting the weight of the body, causing the ligaments, fascia, blood vessels and nerves investing the bones, and the muscles and tendons acting upon the same to become stiff and/or atrophied, resulting in deformed and painful feet, crooked toes, bunions and other kindred ailments.

We have discovered that by treating a foot in an apparatus constructed according to the present invention, which apparatus is adapted to flex, massage and thoroughly exercise all of the bones of the foot, together with all the muscular tissues affecting the same, the foot willbecome relaxed and pain is relieved; and that continued use of the apparatus will restore the bones to their natural positions and build up and strengthen all of the various members in and relating to the foot, and also that muscles, nerves and reflex actions in all parts of the body are greatly benefited.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus adapted for manipulating substantially all parts of the foot simultaneously.

Another object is to provide an apparatus having single operating means for simultaneously manipulating substantially all parts of the foot.

Another object is to provide a foot manipulating apparatus which is adjustable for various sizes of feet.

A further object is to provide means for flexing the rear portion of the foot in one direction, while the front portion is flexed in the opposite direction.

A still further object is to provide means for securely maintaining the foot as a whole in position while the different portions thereof are being flexed or manipulated.

Another object is to provide means for massaging various parts of the foot as the foot is being manipulated.

A further object is toprovide flexible supporting means adapted for supporting substantially the entire foot, and capable of being twisted to 6 flex the foot in different directions.

The foregoing and other objects are embodied in the relatively simple and compact construction comprising the present invention, which is easily applied to the foot and which may be manipu- 10 lated by an unskilled or inexperienced person to give the desired beneficial results.

In general terms, the improved construction comprising the present invention, includes, a base, a frame universally mounted at the front end 15 of the base, an operating handle secured to the. frame, a plurality of flexible foot-supporting strips secured at one end to said frame, means for slidably supporting-the other ends of said strips at the rear end of the base, a resilient pad 20 supported on said strips, a heel support independently and longitudinally adjustably supported on the base above the strips and between the frame and the rear strip support, said heel support being movable transversely of the frame, and means 25 operatively connecting the heel support and frame for imparting transverse movement to said heel support. I

Referring to the drawings forming part hereof.

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved appa- 30 ratus, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a foot secured in position thereon for manipulation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view'thereof showing the foot in dot-dash lines; 3 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus showing the various foot securing means disconnected and parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the manner of applying auxiliary strapping or se- 40 curing means for treating particular parts of the foot;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary. end view of thefootsupporting strips, showing the method of connecting'an auxiliary strap thereto; 45

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view as on line 66, Fig. 3, showing a portion of the foot in dot-dash lines;

I Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view as on line 1-7, Fig. 1, with the foot removed;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View as on line 88, Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View as on line 9-9, Fig. 3; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view as on line I6l6, Fig. 3.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the drawings.

The improved apparatus includes a base indicated generally at H, having a front leg I2 and a rear leg 3 for being supported on the floor and the like. The leg I2 is preferably somewhat longer than leg l3, so that the base plate I4 is disposed at an angle to the supporting floor or the like.

A foot-supporting frame indicated generally at it is universalily mounted on the front end of the base plate I l by means of a ball and socket joint indicated generally at 16. Preferably, the frame i5 is provided with a spherical boss ll, constituting the ball of the joint and supported on a spherical seat provided on the tubular member l3, constituting the socket of the joint, which tubular member is secured to the base plate I4 in any suitable manner.

Means for yieldably holding the ball and socket in interfitting relation to permit universal movement of the frame i5 relative to the base II includes a bolt i9 secured at its upper end to the boss H, and extending through the tubular member i8 and the base plate M. A washer 23 surrounds the bolt 69 and abuts the underside of the base plate, and a wing nut 2| is provided on the lower end of the bolt IS. A coil compression spring 22 is preferably interposed between the washer 20 and the nut 2| for yieldably holding the boss ll against the spherical seat of the socket I8.

The frame I5 preferably includes the side members 23 and 23 connected at their front ends by the transverse member 25. An upright handle rod indicated generally at 25 may be screwed in the central portion of the transverse member 25 for providing means whereby the frame 15 may be manually moved in any direction. The handle rod 26 preferably has a hand grip 2? on its upper end, and is made adjustable in length, as by having the rod include telescoping sections 28 and 29 which may be clamped in adjusted position by a hand nut 33, all as shown in Fig. l.

The rear ends of the side members 23 and 24 of the frame 15 preferably are connected by a transverse foot-supporting member 3!, and the spherical boss ll forming part of the ball and socket joint [6, is preferably formed on the transverse member 3|.

A stationary support 32 is mounted on the rear end of the base plate 14 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A plurality of resilient metal foot-supporting strips 33 extend from the frame i5 rearwardly to and through the stationary support 32 for supporting substantially all of a foot, and are arranged in side by side preferably parallel relation and spaced apart laterally. These strips 33 are preferably secured to the transverse member 3! of the frame l5 at their front ends, and are slidably mounted or supported at their rear ends in the stationary support 32, as by extending through slots 34 provided in a top plate 35 detachably secured to the support 32, as best shown in'Figs. 1 and 10.

The transverse foot-supporting member 3| is preferably notched as shown at 3Ia for a purpose to be described, and the upper surface of member 3! is provided with laterally spaced guides or slots indicated at 36 in Fig. 9, for receiving the strips 33. For the purpose of strengthening the strips 33 the slots 36 may be made deep enough to each take two strips, and

similar parts each slot provided with a resilient strip 33' superimposed upon and overlapping the front ends of the strips 33, as shown in the drawings.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the front ends of the strips 33 may terminate at the notched por- 5 tion 31a of transverse member 3i, while the front ends of strips 33 extend forward therefrom to a position adjacent the member 25 and the rear ends of the strips 33 extend a short distance rearwardly of the rear edge of the transverse member 3 l.

As shown in the drawings, the foot-supporting strips 33 may be five in number and centrally located with respect to the frame I5, and the frame i5 may be made wide enough to accommodate an extra strip 33 in a slot 36 at each side of the strips 33, for the purpose of providing a wide support for the toes of the foot.

The strips 33 and 33' and 33" are preferably secured in the slots 36 and 36 of transverse foot supporting member 3! by means of a plate 3'! fitting across the top of transverse member 3| and clamping the strips in their slots by means of screws 38 located between the slots and screwed into the transverse members 3E.

A heel support indicated generally at 46 is independently and longitudinally adjustably mounted on the base plate id by means of the upright L-shaped supporting frame H which is provided with a longitudinally extending rib 42 slidable in a longitudinal slot 43 in the base plate. Means for clamping the frame member 3! in adjusted position on the base plate id to accommodate different sizes of feet may include a bolt Me extending through the rib 32 and provided with a clamping nut engaging the underside of the base plate Ml, a lock nut 46, and a cam lever ll pivotally connected to the upper end of the bolt 45 and abutting a plate @8 which engages the upper side of the frame member 45 for clamping the frame member against the base plate l4.

Preferably, the frame member ti has mounted thereon, a heel support mounting plate 53 which is pivoted at its lower end on a bolt 5i secured to the frame 4 I for transverse movement relative to the base. The heel support mounting plate is preferably provided with arms 52 extending upwardly around the outer strips 33, and a cupshaped heel supporting member 53 is secured to the upper ends of the arms 52 and located above the plates 33 between the frame it and the stationary support 32. Preferably, the heel supporting member 53 is shaped to substantially conform to the contour of the human heel. 55

Means for operatively connecting the frame i5 to the heel support li} preferably includes a rod 56 pivotally connected at its front end to a stud 51 secured in the transverse foot-supporting member 3| substantially in the same horizontal plane as the center of rotation of boss portion H, and the rod 56 extends through the heel plate 56 and the upright heel supporting frame 4!.

The rod 56 is pivotally connected to stud 51 by means of a substantially horizontal pivot pin 51a permitting relative movement of member 3! and rod 53 in a substantially vertical plane, and causing axial rotation of the rod 56 when the member 3! is rocked in a transverse plane.

The plate 56 is provided with a U -shaped opening 58 through which the rod 56 extends, and a substantially circular cam member 33 is keyed to the rod as at 6|, the rod 56 being located through an aperture 62 in the cam, which aperture is eccentric thereof.

The sides of the U-shaped opening 58 are preferably grooved as indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, and the sides of cam 60 fit loosely in said grooves. Accordingly, a transverse reciprocatory movement of the frame l5 will rotate the rod 56 and cam 60 so as to oscillate the heel plate 50 and its heel supporting member 53 about pivot 5| in a transverse direction opposite to the direction of transverse movement of the foot-supporting frame I5.

A flat flap 64 of leather and the like is located upon the resilient strips 33, the front portion of the flap substantially conforming in size and shape to the foot-supporting member 3| of the frame I5 and being secured thereto as by screws 65 and by two or more of the screws 38, which are secured in the transverse member 3|.

The rear portion of the flap 64 terminates in front of the top plate 35 of the stationary support 32, and between the top plate 35, and the member 3|, the flap is preferably of a width sufficient to cover all of the strips 33.

At the upper side of its front portion and located over the member 3!, the flap 64 is preferably provided with a yielding pad 66, which is suitably rounded for engaging under the transverse arch of a foot F supported on the apparatus, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The pad 66 may be secured to the flap 64 in any suitable manner as by stitching.

A strap 68 is provided for securing the front portion of the foot to the frame l5 and for pressing the foot onto the pad 66. The strap 68 is connected at one end to one of the side members of the frame l5 by providing a button stud 69 on member 23 for example, and providing a snap-on button 70 on one end of the strap for connection with said stud.

The other end of the strap 68 is adjustably clamped to side member 64, as by a clamp indicated at H, and the button stud 69 and clamp H are located at opposite sides of the transverse member 3|. The strap 68 is adapted to fit over the transverse arch of the foot F, securing the foot to the frame I5 and pressing the transverse arch of the foot downwardly against the pad 66.

A preferably elastic strap 12 is provided for holding the toes of the foot F down against the strips 33' and the front portion of the flap 64, which lies over the supporting member 3|. The strap 72 is provided at its ends with snap-n buttons 15, for fitting on the outer ends of button studs 69' provided on side members 23 and 24 in front of button stud 69 and clamp H respectively.

Preferably, the studs 69' are made longer than stud 69 for a purpose to be described. A button stud 69" may be mounted on each of the members 23 and 24 in front of the studs 69' for a purpose to be later described.

Preferably, a short strap member 13 is connected to the central portion of strap 72 by a snap-on button and looped around the strap 56, for holding the straps 68 and 12 from sliding longitudinally on the foot when the same is being manipulated.

For securely holding the foot F in position on the apparatus with the heel of the foot supported in heel supporting member 53 of heel support 40 and the front part of the foot supported on frame I5, a pair of preferably elastic straps 14 is provided. Each of the straps 14 is secured at one end to the underside of the. front of snap-on buttons 10 located at intervals on the end portion of the strap. The rear walls of the heel supporting member 53 are provided with button studs 69a for connection with the snap-on buttons?!) on the straps 14.

When it is desired to securea foot F in position on the apparatus, the heel support 40 is first adjusted longitudinally to bring the ball of the foot substantially opposite to the clamp H and the pad 66 directly under the transverse arch of the foot. The heel support is then clamped by 15 means of the clamping lever 41 in the manner previously described. The strap 68 is then clamped tightly over the transverse arch, and the elastic strap 12 is connected at its ends to the studs 69' and at its central portion to the short strap 73.

Each strap 14 is then led upwardly around and over the instep and back to the opposite side of the heel member 53 so that the straps 14 cross on the top of the instep. The straps 14 are then stretched tightly enough to hold the foot securely in position and connected to the heel member 53 by means of the snap-on buttons 10 nearest the studs 69a.

When the foot is thussecured in position on the apparatus, the resilient strips 33 are adapted to directly support the underside of the foot between the heel and toes thereof as the foot is manipulated by means of the hand grip 21.

The foot is manipulated preferably by moving 35 the hand grip 21 in a substantially circular path, so that during the transverse portions of the path the frame I 5 is rocked transversely to oscillate heel member 53 in a transversely opposite direction. Transverse movement of the frame I5 bends and twists the resilient plates in such a way as to flex, massage and exercise the front portion of the foot and flex and exercise the heel portion of the foot in the opposite direction.

During the bending and twisting of the resilient plates by movement of the frame l5, the slots 34 allow the rear ends of plates 33 to cant laterally to a slight extent and also to move back and forth longitudinally in said slots so as to prevent possible breakage of the plates 33.

During the forward and backward movements of the hand grip 21 the longitudinal arch of the foot is more particularly flexed, massaged and exercised by the bending and twisting of the plates 33, and this movement also acts to press the pad 66 upwardly against the transverse arch, so as to massage the same.

If the longitudinal arch of the foot requires special treatment, because of a weakened condition or for any other reason, a yielding arch pad 15 may be positioned under the longitudinal arch of the foot, in a manner shown in Figs. 1 and 7. This arch pad preferably rests upon the flap 64 and is provided with clips 16 extending around the outer edge of the flap 64 and adapted to engage between adjacent strips 33 for holding the pad in position thereon.

Thus, when the arch pad 15 is used and the handle 26 manipulated, the movement of the strips 33 and the heel support 53 acts to massage the longitudinal arch of the foot for exercising and strengthening the same.

Manipulation of the foot, as above described, exercises, flexes and massages substantially all parts of the same simultaneously in such manner as to strengthen, build up and restore the ligaments, fascia, blood vessels and nerves thereof, and the muscles and tendons actingthereon, resulting in a restoration of the bones of the foot to their natural positions. Moreover, the treatment of the foot in the improved apparatus affects all parts of the body to the extent that the various muscles, nerves and reflex actions throughout the body are greatly benefited. Obviously, the above described manipulation of the foot can be carried out by an inexperienced person.

For treating special ailments of and pertaining T to the toes of the foot, auxiliary straps are provided.

In Fig. 4 is shown the manner of strapping the large toe for treatment of a bunion thereon, and also the method of strapping the second toe for treatment of a cramped'condition such as hammer toe.

A strap 18 is provided for the large toe, and has at one end a snap-on connection T9 adapted to fit down over the shank of either of the elongated button studs 69. The other end of the strap is provided with an enlarged or beaded portion 80 for fitting between two of the strips 33 as shown in Fig. 5, so as to connect the other end of the strap to the strips 33.

A slightly longer strap 8| is provided for correcting hammer toe, and has at one end a snap-on connection 19 for fitting over the shank of either of the studs 69 and an enlarged or beaded portion at the other end for being secured between two of the strips 33.

The enlarged or beaded ends of the auxiliary straps are adapted to fit Within the notched portion 3la of the transverse member 35, if required by the position of the toes on the frame 55.

As shown in Fig. 4, the inner end of the strap 8i may be positioned between the first and second toes with its enlarged end connected between the two adjacent strips 33', and led upwardly therefrom over the second toe, down between the second and third toe and between another pair of strips 33, under the adjacent strip 33' and thence upward between the next two strips 33' and then out for connection with one of the studs 69!.

After the auxiliary straps are positioned as shown in Fig. 4, the strap 12 may be connected to the outer ends of studs 6 for holding all-f the toes in position.

Obviously, the straps 14, 68 and 12 are adapted for securing either the right or left foot in position for being manipulated, and the auxiliary straps are reversible for treating the toes of either foot.

The button studs 69 are provided for connection to any of the auxiliary straps which may be provided for various treatments of the toes.

We claim:

1. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a foot-supporting frame universally mounted on the base, a heel support mounted for transverse oscillatory movement on the base, and means operatively connecting said frame to said heel support for imparting transverse oscillatory movement to said heel support when the frame is given a transverse reciprocatory movement relative to the base.

2. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a foot-supporting frame universally mounted on the base, a heel support mounted for transverse movement on the base, and means operatively connecting the frame and the heel support for imparting transverse movement to the heel support in a direction opposite to transverse movement applied to said frame.

3. Foot manipulating apparatus including a 6 base, a foot-supporting frame mounted for transverse movement on the base, a heel support independently mounted for transverse movement on the base, and means operatively connecting said frame to said heel support for moving the heel support transversely when the frame is moved transversely.

4. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a foot-supporting frame universally mounted on one end of the base, a heel support 15 spaced from the frame longitudinally of the base and independently mounted on the base for transverse movement in a plane perependicular thereto, and means operatively connecting said frame to said .heel support for moving the heel support transversely by moving the frame transversely.

5. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a foot-supporting frame universally mounted on one end of the base, a heel support spaced from the frame longitudinaly of the base and independently and longitudinally adjustabiy mounted on the base for transverse movement in a, plane perpendicular thereto, and means operatively connecting said frame to said heel support for moving the heel support transversely by moving the frame transversely.

6. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a foot-supporting frame universally mounted on one end of the base, a heel support spaced from the frame longitudinally of the base and independently mounted on the base for transverse movement in a plane perpendicular thereto, means for securing a foot in position on said frame and said heel support, and means operatively connecting said frame and said heel support for moving the heel support transversely by moving the frame transversely.

7. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a foot-supporting frame universally mounted on one end of the base, a heel support spaced from the frame longitudinally of the base and independently and longitudinally adjustably mounted on the base for transverse movement in a plane perpendicular thereto, means for securing .a foot in position on said frame and said heel support, and means operatively connecting said frame and said heel support for moving the heel support transversely by moving the frame transversely.

8. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a frame universally mounted on one end of the base, a stationary support on the other end of the base, and a resilient foot-supporting strip extending between the frame and the station-ary support and having one end secured to the frame and the other end slidably mounted in said stationary support, whereby movement of the frame will flex the resilient strip, said resilient strip being adapted to directly support the underside of the foot.

9. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a frame universally mounted on one end of the base, a stationary support on the other end of the base, a'resilient foot-supporting strip having one end secured to the frame and the other end slidably mounted in said stationary support, a heel support longitudinally spaced from said frame and independently mounted on the frame for transverse movement in a plane perpendicular thereto thereof, said heel support being disposed above said resilient strip and between said frame and said stationary support, and means operatively connecting said frame and said heel support for moving the heel support transversely by moving the frame transversely.

19. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a frame universally mounted on one end of the base, a stationary support on the other end of the base, a resilient foot-supporting strip having one end secured to the frame and the other end slidably mounted in the stationary support, a, heel support longitudinally spaced from said frame and independently mounted for transverse movement on the base in a plane perpendicular thereto, and located above said resilient strip between said frame and said stationary support, and means operatively connecting said heel support and said frame for imparting transverse movement to the heel support in a direction opposite to transverse movement applied to the frame.

11. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a frame adapted to be located under the front portion of a foot and universally mounted on one end of the base, a stationary support on the other end of the base, resilient foot-supporting strips adapted to directly support the underside of a foot, said strips being secured at one end in the frame and slidably mounted at their other ends in the stationary support, whereby movement of the frame will flex the resilient strips, a heel support on the base and located over said resilient strips, means for binding the front portion of the foot to said frame, and strap means connected at one end to said frame and at the other end to said heel support for holding a foot in position on the resilient supporting strips and the heel support.

12. Foot manipulating apparatus including a base, a, frame mounted on one end of the base for transverse movement in a plane perpendicular thereto thereof, a stationary support on the other end of the base, and a resilient foot-supporting strip adapted to directly support the underside of the foot and secured at one end 20 

